Lemont Park District VP Receives Statewide Recognition

After just four years on the Board of Commissioners, Vice President Mike Colaizzi has been honored with one the state’s highest honors for park officials.

During the annual conference of the Illinois Association of Park Districts, which was held Jan. 27-29 in downtown Chicago, Colaizzi received the Master Board Member Award. The honor is part of the IAPD Board Member Development Program, which recognizes overall involvement and “achievements at the local, state and national  levels in the field of parks, recreation and conservation,” according to an IAPD press release.

Individuals receiving the Master Board Member distinction "have gone above and beyond the call of duty as park commissioners,” said Peter Murphy, president and CEO of the association.

“Mike is very involved at the local level, and he takes it upon himself to get involved statewide as well," Murphy said. "He is a great proponent of enhancing the quality of life in Illinois through the services of park districts, forest preserves, conservation, recreation and special recreation agencies."

Colaizzi has been a commissioner for the Lemont Park District Board since 2007. He is a member of the IAPD Program Committee, and was the 2009 operations co-chair of the IAPD/Illinois Park and Recreation Association’s joint conference committee. He currently serves as the events chair for that committee.

The IAPD was established in 1928, and currently serves more than 2,100 elected park, recreation and forest preserve district board members who govern more than 390 agencies employing 40,000 individuals, according to the release.

In an interview with Patch this week, Colaizzi said he was "honored and excited" to receive the distinction, especially in such a short amount of time.

"The Board Member Development Program is a point-based system where individuals acheive certain levels based on their level of involvement and also the achievements of their park districts," he said.

According to Colaizzi, his personal achievements only scratched the surface of his success in the IAPD program. The developments in the Lemont Park District over the past five years, including the construction of the , played a huge factor in the recognition, he said.

"During my four years on the board, we've had some really exciting things going on, like the referendum passing in 2007 and the CORE opening in 2009," Colaizzi said. "All of those things, plus my involvement with the association at the state level allowed me to rack up points quickly."

Louise Egofske, executive director of the Lemont Park District, said she was pleased to see Colaizzi's efforts recognized by his peers across the state.

"The Lemont Park District is extremely fortunate to have Commissioner Colaizzi serve on our board," she said in an e-mail. "His passion and dedication are a great asset to our district and the Lemont community.We are grateful for his service and congratulate him on this distinguished honor."

Colaizzi said he will continue to be active at the state level and be an advocate for the Lemont Park District and any measures that would help commissioners improve activities and facilities for residents.

"My participation in a state organization like IAPD gives us better insight as to what's available and what's out there for park officials to use as resources," he said. "I hope with this honor that I can continue my work and make Lemont and other area park districts better places for everyone."